Hobo or Snob: Ralph Lauren Purple Label vs. Topman

Left: Ralph Lauren Purple Label Suede Shirt £1,565 @ Mr Porter
Right: Mustard Suede Shacket £90 @ Topman.com

Oh dear, looks like I've been spending way too much time on Topman.com as i couldn't help but notice the similarity  once more between this lovely Mustard Shacket and Polo Ralph Lauren Purple Label Suede shirt. Now God forbid I compare the fabrics and cut, as we all know Ralph Lauren Purple label will win on all accounts, but as a suede shirt priced at a quite modest £90 in comparison to Ralph Lauren's £1,565 tag, Topman's mustard Shacket isn't shabby at all, if styled properly, it'd looks just as good. I personally love how it has been styled with a printed shirt as can be seen below, and during those winter months take a cue from how the Ralph Lauren purple label has been styled and add a Polo neck knit underneath

Left: Ralph Lauren Purple Label Suede Shirt £1,565 @ Mr Porter
Right: Mustard Suede Shacket £90 @ Topman.com

Hobo or Snob: Burberry Prorsum vs. Topman

Left: Burberry Prorsum's Fair Isle Knit £550 @ Mr Porter
Right: Reindeer Yoke Jumper £40 @ Topman

Summer is barely over and the shops are already stocking Winter knits, not that I mind much of course,  it just means there's extra time to stock up on some Winter essentials. One of which will undoubtedly be this superb Jumper from Topman, I'm head over heels in love with it and can't wait to wear it during those cold winter months. I also couldn't help but notice its similarity to  Burberry Prorsum's Fair isle knit, as a lot of the design centres around the shoulders, both jumpers are beautiful and worthy additions to any gentleman's wardrobe, but at a pocket burning £550, I'd have to wave goodbye to Burberry Prorsum's knit.

Celebrities are Hobos too

Left Jamie Winstone in a Dolce & Gabbana Silk Satin Dress and Topshop Wedges
Right: Walberg Blue Suede Ankle Strap wedges £70 @ Topshop.com

Its always nice to see celebrities giving High Street brands some love, such was the case this past week, when Jamie Winstone mixed high end with high street when she attended the Dolce and Gabbana Party at the Net-a-Porter Head offices in London on thursday night wearing a Dolce & Gabbana silk satin dress with Topshop's Walberg blue Suede wedges. Those wedges are proving very popular as they're selling out fast, last time I checked their website, they only had them from sizes 36-38, with sizes 39-42 all sold out.

Left: Eva Longoria at the Microsoft imagine awards in New York
Right: Asos Rust egg shape Shift Dress £20 @ Asos.com 

Also championing the high street was Eva Longoria, when she attended the Microsoft Imagine awards in New York City wearing a £20 Asos Egg shape dress. The dress which was originally priced at £50 is still available in a number of sizes and colours on the asos site at a very reasonable £20. 

Hobo or Snob: Gucci vs. Topman

Left: Gucci Embroidered denim Shirt £1,690 @ mrporter.com
Right: Blue Navajo Embroidery Shirt £36 @ Topman

Gucci's super pricey Embroidered T shirt gets the Topman treatment.

Here's the shirt as worn on the Gucci Spring '11 Runway

Topman 's version is clearly inspired and although i love the faded wash on the Gucci Shirt, there's way too much embroidery going on at the back, I love Topman's clean and rather minimal embrodiery design on the back of the shirt.

Left: Gucci Embroidered denim Shirt £1,690 @ mrporter.com
Right: Blue Navajo Embroidery Shirt £36 @ Topman

Topman wins for me both in terms of design and Price on this one

Hobo or Snob: D&G Fall vs. Topman

Gotta love Topman, they're always bang on  trend, and in some cases ahead of forthcoming trends before other stores catch on. A great case in point are the top looks from the D&G Fall show already appearing in their stores as we shall see soon, from Padded Gilets to Lp Sleeve T-Shirts, Topman are not leaving anything to chance

Take D&G's fall Mickey mouse, Coca Cola and all things Americana trend for instance, Topman are doing it so well with some lovely pieces you can add into your wardrobe right now

D&G Fall 2011

Now lets have at how Topman has translated this trend

1.  Navy American washed T-shirt £22 @ Topman.com
2. Drink Coca Cola T-Shirt £20 @ Topman
3. MTV America T-shirt £20 @ Topman
4. Blue 90's Mickey Mouse Sweat Top £28 @ Topman 

Left: Padded Gilets at D&G Fall
Right: Sporty Green Padded Gilet £50 @ Topman
Sporty Blue Padded Gilet  £50 @ Topman

Remember my previous Post on icon Tshirts and Bryan Ferry Lp T-shirts well Topman have gone back in time to Dig out this Roxy Music Lp PrinT T- Shirt

Hobo or Snob: Jimmy Choo Vs. Warehouse

1. Jimmy Choo Candy Acrylic Crocodile effect leather Clutch £595 @ net-a-porter
2. Jimmy Choo Candy Glitter Clutch £350 @ Net-a-porter
3. Warehouse Clean Structured Clutch £45 @ Warehouse

Oh dear two Jimmy Choo Posts in one day, after the classic strap sandal being given the Zara treatment, Jimmy Choo's Candy Clutch gets the Warehouse treatment, and oh yes the Warehouse Clutch is sooo Inspired by Jimmy's Candy Clutch, you'd have to be blind not to notice. I'll cut to the chase with the prices now, Jimmy's arm candy cost a whopping £595 while Warehouse's arm candy costs  £45, which in all honesty is still a little too much to spend on a plastic box, but I digress and I'm so calling Hobo on this one again, over to you readers

Hobo or Snob: Jimmy Choo vs. Zara

Left: Jimmy Choo's Private Suede Sandals £560 @ net-a-porter.com
Right: Zara's Instep Strappy Sandals £29.99 @ Zara

This edition of Hobo vs. Snob is between Jimmy Choo's Private Suede Sandals and Zara's Classic Instep Strap Sandal which looks like it was clearly Inspired by Jimmy Choo's (note Inspired is the KEYword here). They both come in almost the same shade of Purple, they're both Suede and just about the same height (Jimmy Choo's is 5inches while Zara's is 4.13inches). A major difference and what matters above all, is the price difference between both sandals, while the Jimmy Choo's cost a whopping £560, Zara's cost a measly £29.99. Now of course I'm sure Jimmy Choo sourced the finest leathers, cobblers etc. to add up to that massive price point. Zara's heels are by no means shabby at all and if worn carefully and maintained properly they'll last for years. I'm calling Hobo on this one, how about you dear readers.